Generator for gas turbine engine having main DC bus accessory AC bus

ABSTRACT

An aircraft electrical system includes a generator that supplies electrical AC power to a plurality of accessories associated with a gas turbine engine. The generator also supplies power to an aircraft DC bus in parallel to the supply to the accessory bus.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/859,055, which was filed Sep. 21, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,952,220.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to an electric system for a generator in a gasturbine engine, which generates power for both an associated aircraftthrough a DC power bus, and engine accessories with AC power.

A power generating system for an aircraft converts motive powergenerated by a prime mover, such as gas turbine engine, to DC electricalpower that is supplied to a DC bus to which various aircraft electricalcomponents may be connected.

Recently, electric engine architecture has been developed which includesan integrated generator associated with a gas turbine engine. Powergenerated by the generator flows to an aircraft bus and, also to aplurality of engine accessories. Thus, the engine accessories arepowered directly by the generated electric power and the power for otheraircraft functions is also supplied from the generator. The aircraft busand the accessories are powered in parallel relative to each other.

In these known electric engine architectures, even though the generatedpower is initially three phase AC, it is typically converted into DC.Generally, if a generator frequency is above 800 Hz, then shielded wiresor conduits are required for AC power to be distributed about anaircraft. Shielded wires, or conduits, add significant weight and arethus undesirable. Thus, proposed systems have used inverter/rectifiersto convert the AC power into DC.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, an aircraft electricalsystem includes a generator supplying electrical AC power to a pluralityof accessories associated with a gas turbine engine. The generator alsosupplies power to an aircraft DC bus in parallel to the supply to theaccessories. A high frequency AC accessory bus may power theaccessories.

These and other features of the present invention can be best understoodfrom the following specification and drawings, the following of which isa brief description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic for a gas turbine engine associated with anaircraft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a system 20 including an engine 24 associated with anaircraft. The electrical system for engine 24 will be described, but itshould be understood that a similar second engine, not illustrated,having a similar system, may be included. An aircraft DC bus 22 receivespower from a generator 28, as will be explained. A pair ofinverter/rectifiers 30 receive the power generated by the generator 28,and distribute that power to the aircraft DC bus 22. Power from theinverter/rectifiers 30 passes through filters 34, and through lines 33and 35 to the aircraft DC bus 22. Motor controllers 36, 40 and 44provide control to an air pump and its motor 38, a lube pump and itsmotor 42, and a fuel pump and its motor 46. The generator as disclosedis a permanent magnet generator, but this application does extend toother type generators. As is clearly shown in FIG. 1, there are also apair of motor controllers 36, 40, 44 associated with each of the airpump motor 38, lube pump motor 42, and fuel pump motor 46. In addition,the accessory buses power a pair of voltage regulators 48.

As illustrated, generator 28 is an integrated starter-generator.However, it should be understood that this application extends not onlyto an integrated starter-generator operating in a generator mode, butalso to stand-alone generators.

One known electrical system is disclosed in U.S. published patentapplications 2004/039202A1, 2006/0226721A1, and 2006/0113967A1. Thepresent invention is directed to improving upon these basic systems, aswill be described below.

As mentioned above, the electrical systems in these applications haveutilized DC power for both the accessory motors and the aircraft DC bus.In the present invention, an accessory bus 32 receives AC power from thegenerator 28. This high frequency AC current is utilized to drive themotors 46, 42, and 38 through the associated controllers 44, 40 and 36.Since the accessories are mounted adjacent or on the aircraft engine 24,there is no necessity for providing long shielding or conduit. Thus, theuse of the AC current is practical for the accessory bus 32.

The use of high frequency AC for the engine accessory bus reducesdynamic interaction between system components. For example, in anarchitecture with a DC engine accessory bus, there could be undesirablevoltage modulation on an engine accessory DC bus if the bus is connectedto a high performance motor drive, such as a fuel pump. This phenomenonis known as a negative impedance instability. The high frequency AC bus32 eliminates this possibility, and provides other valuable benefits.

One concern with the basic arrangement of system 20 occurs if a shortcircuit occurs on the aircraft DC bus 22. Since the accessory motors 38,42 and 46 are in parallel with the aircraft DC bus 22, they may bedrained to the short circuit on the aircraft DC bus 22. Thus, power willnot flow to the motors 38, 42 and 46. Of course, the air pump, lube pumpand fuel pump are flight critical components for the associated gasturbine engines 24 and 26, and it is important to maintain theiroperation.

To address a potential short circuit, a control 100 can sense when ashort circuit occurs on the aircraft DC bus 22. Switch 70 is controlledby the control 100. Of course, the control 100 may be the maincontroller for the engine, and can communicate with many more items.However, for purposes of understanding this invention, all that need beunderstood is the control 100 controls the switch 70.

A voltage regulator 48 receives control voltage, normally from a line 50from the accessory bus 32. However, an alternate line 54 provides powerto the voltage regulator 48 through a diode 56. A battery bus 60 isconnected to a battery 58, and through a line 62, and diode 66 to theaircraft DC bus 22. The battery bus also provides power through a diode68 to a line 64 connected to the alternate control line 54.

FIG. 1 shows a normal power generation mode, such as would occur whenthe aircraft is in flight. The gas turbine engine drives the generator28, and power is generated to power the motors 38, 42 and 46, and todeliver additional power to the aircraft DC bus 22. As shown, the powerflowing to the aircraft DC bus passes through the engine accessory bus.The inverter/rectifiers 30 convert the AC power to a DC power.

In a start mode, the switches 70 and 72 are maintained closed. The diode66 allows power to flow from the battery to the bus 22, and this powerwill then flow to the generator, to begin to operate the generator as amotor to start the gas turbine engine 24. Power will not flow from thebattery through the diode 68, as there will be a higher voltage(typically 28 volts) on the accessory bus at this time than is suppliedby the battery (typically 24 volts), and the diode 68 will beanti-biased.

If the control 100 detects a short circuit on the aircraft DC bus 22,the control 100 opens the switch 70. The diode 68 will now allow powerto flow from the battery 58 to the control line 54, through the diode 56and to the voltage regulator 48. Since the switch 70 is opened, powerwill not be drained from the engine accessory bus, but will continue todrive the motors 38, 42 and 46. At the same time, the battery, throughthe voltage flowing through the diode 68, will continue to provide thecontrol voltage to voltage regulator 48 as necessary to power thevoltage regulator. After some short period of time, the short circuit iscorrected, and the control 100 can then close the switch 70. Once theshort circuit is corrected, a higher voltage will be seen on the engineaccessory bus than is supplied by the battery 58. At that time, thediode 68 will be anti-biased and power will not flow from the battery.The diode 66 is also anti-biased in this condition and blocks the powerflow from the battery 58 to the aircraft dc bus.

While diodes 66 and 68 are disclosed, powered switches controlled by thecontrol 100 can replace the diodes 66 and 68.

While the accessory bus 32 is shown as connected via theinverter/rectifier 30, and the power quality filter 34 with the aircraftDC bus, and each of the controllers 36, 40 and 44, it may also bepossible to have the generator 28 deliver power to these devices withoutthe intermediate accessory bus 32.

Although an embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker ofordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modificationswould come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, thefollowing claims should be studied to determine the true scope andcontent of this invention.

1. A generator and power system comprising: a generator supplyingelectrical AC power to an AC accessory bus and then to a plurality ofaccessory motors to be associated with a gas turbine engine; and saidgenerator supplying power to an aircraft DC bus from said accessory busin parallel with the supply to said accessories; and a voltage regulatorfor said generator is provided with control voltage from said accessorybus when a switch is closed, but is provided with an alternative voltagesource from a battery when said switch is opened.
 2. The system as setforth in claim 1, wherein a power conversion device converts AC powerfrom said AC accessory bus to DC power to be delivered to said aircraftDC bus.
 3. The system as set forth in claim 2, wherein a rectifierconverts the AC power to DC power.
 4. The system as set forth in claim1, wherein said accessories include at least a fuel pump.
 5. The systemas set forth in claim 1, wherein said accessories include at least alube pump.
 6. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch isopened when a short is sensed on the aircraft DC bus.
 7. The system asset forth in claim 1, wherein a diode arrangement controls the flow ofvoltage from the battery to the voltage regulator when said switch isopened.
 8. An aircraft engine comprising: a gas turbine engine; said gasturbine engine driving a generator, said generator supplying electricalAC power to an AC accessory bus and then to a plurality of accessoriesassociated with said gas turbine engine; said generator supplying powerto an aircraft DC bus from said accessory bus in parallel with thesupply to said accessories; a power conversion device converts AC powerfrom said AC accessory bus to DC power to be delivered to said aircraftDC bus, and said accessories include at least one of a fuel pump forsupplying fuel to said gas turbine engine and a lube pump for supplyinglubricant to said gas turbine engine; said AC accessory bus deliveringAC power to a motor controller which in turn communicates with a motorfor said at least one of said fuel pump and said lube pump; a voltageregulator for said generator also receiving a control voltage from saidaccessory bus, and the voltage regulator receiving the control voltagefrom an alternative source when a short circuit is detected on theaircraft DC bus.
 9. The aircraft engine as set forth in claim 8, whereinthere are a pair of voltage regulators for said generator receivingcontrol voltage.
 10. An aircraft engine comprising: a gas turbineengine; said gas turbine engine driving a generator, said generatorsupplying electrical AC power to an AC accessory bus and then to aplurality of accessories associated with said gas turbine engine; saidgenerator supplying power to an aircraft DC bus from said accessory busin parallel with the supply to said accessories; and a voltage regulatorfor said generator is provided with control voltage from said accessorybus when a switch is closed, but is provided with an alternative voltagesource from a battery when said switch is opened.
 11. The aircraftengine as set forth in claim 10, wherein said switch is opened when ashort is sensed on the aircraft DC bus.
 12. The aircraft engine as setforth in claim 10, wherein a diode arrangement controls the flow ofvoltage from the battery to the voltage regulator when said switch isopened.
 13. A generator comprising: a generator for generating AC powerand delivering AC power to an accessory bus; a voltage regulator forproviding control to said generator, said voltage regulator normallyreceiving control voltage from said accessory bus; and an alternativesupply of control voltage to said voltage regulator being received froma battery when a short has been detected in a system associated with thegenerator.
 14. The generator as set forth in claim 13, wherein a switchis opened when the short is detected, and diode arrangement controls theflow of voltage from the battery to the voltage regulator such that itwill not occur after the switch has been closed.